12-26-2019, 03:15 PM | #3 |
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I haven't seen any cars with the merino interior yet (aside from the one press car with Fiona Red), which is annoying because I ordered Full Ivory Merino for my M340i (build Jan) basically sight unseen
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12-26-2019, 04:42 PM | #4 |
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I've seen a couple posted here in the forum and can't help but get jealous. I'm not a fan of the vernasca leather in my g20, and absolutely love the merino leather in my g05. I just can't justify $5k (i suppose it's really only $3k with a 60% residual) and an extra 3-4 months build time for an individual option on a car i'll only have for 3 years just because BMW won't offer subsidized pricing and availability for the US market.
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12-28-2019, 06:42 PM | #5 |
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wasn't available even when i placed my individual order, i wanted it =(
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12-28-2019, 06:54 PM | #6 | |
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Apparently if the individual option code starts with X, then it requires a special individual build slot. If it has any other code, e.g. 4 or V then it can be built in any slog like a normal car. I wanted the blue and the individual open pore wood but was quoted June by BMW (instead of January with Ivory full merino and 'normal' open pore wood) |
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12-28-2019, 08:35 PM | #7 | |
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I suppose the bigger issue is the pricing, since it's not subsidized in the 3 series for the US market as it is in other models that do offer it (i.e. 5 series)
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12-28-2019, 10:48 PM | #8 | |
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As you know, when the dealer builds a car right off the local-spec option list, they can just pop in the relevant codes against a car already in their allocation (provided it hasn't started production) and they could effectively have a car being made to your specification within a few weeks + shipping. But since you want a non-US spec option, that'll have to go via the BMW head office to get approval (which presumably isn't too quick) before they can add the option in - and I think only an administrative user can add non-local spec options to the car even after this approval has been granted. I think there's only one person in a dealer who has this access and it's a collaborative exercise with the head office to do. It really shouldn't be hard or slow but hey big business slowness is common in all industries . So you just need to work with the dealer to get that approval and then afterwards those more 'regular' merino options are all yours ASAP (but for a pretty $$$$ price). My M340i order (Australian), was placed in mid-December and accepted for a Week 3 Jan 2020 build allocation per my request (calendar year is important in our part of the world for resale so i wanted one of the first 2020 slots) with Full Ivory Merino. |
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12-29-2019, 06:34 AM | #9 | |
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You'll have to let me know how the merino in the 3 series is and if it's worth it. I'm not too satisfied with the vernasca leather in it currently. I have merino in my X5 and I love it.
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12-29-2019, 06:36 AM | #10 | |
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12-31-2019, 04:39 PM | #11 |
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I hate both this year's, and its previous 'wanna-be' cousin's leather. My thought is that since the new 3 is the same size as previous 5s, they would lose a LOT of 5 sales if we could get a more 'civilized' leather in the 3.
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01-03-2020, 04:00 AM | #12 |
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Sounds like you're right. Though I do wonder why it's not allowed only in North America? Seems other regions can order it.
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01-03-2020, 09:22 AM | #13 |
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agreed..i wish i could've gotten the merino for my individual build =(
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01-03-2020, 09:41 AM | #14 |
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01-03-2020, 09:42 AM | #15 |
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pretty much..
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01-09-2020, 05:47 AM | #17 |
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01-09-2020, 12:30 PM | #18 |
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Yep, merino here.
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01-09-2020, 12:35 PM | #19 |
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Very nice. I was going to order the red merino but it was going to add too much time to my build (or so said the dealer). Something like an additional 2 months?
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01-09-2020, 12:38 PM | #20 | |
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I hated waiting when I imported cars from Japan, I don't think I could handle the waiting for a build, plus shipping. |
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01-09-2020, 12:39 PM | #21 | |
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01-21-2020, 11:06 AM | #22 |
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This same question comes up every couple of months. BMWNA, who controls the US market, decided some time ago to differentiate the 3 and the 4 by making the 4 a more upscale model. The F32 4 had merino interior options. The F30 3 did not. Similarly, the G02 X4 has merino interior options, but the G01 X3 does not. And I expect that we'll see merino options when the new 4 is introduced in the US in a few months. It's just a BMWNA/US thing. Go figure . . .
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